Keep pressure on Taliban

January 21, 2010

Though the new troop surge in Afghanistan is just beginning, the top U.S. commander there believes it is making a difference against the Taliban.

We hope so. Defeating them is important.

Gen. Stanley McChrystal commented early last week that the surge, along with a change in strategy and tactics, has slowed the momentum of a Taliban offensive.

He added, however, "It's not a completed mission yet."

No, it is not. And we hope everyone realizes that. As long as the Taliban are on the offensive - or even in a good defensive position - the mission has not been accomplished.

We disagree with some critics of U.S. involvement in Afghanistan who say it is not vital that the Taliban be defeated.

Should they regain power, there is every reason to believe they would welcome back al-Qaida, allowing the terrorist group to use Afghanistan as a safe haven from which to launch attacks against Americans.

Have we forgotten so quickly the viciousness of the Taliban? Do Americans really suppose that a regime eager to stone women to death could ever be a friend?